A course designed to equip students with a range of necessary management and horse care skills. Students undertake core studies in marketing and business operations combined with three stream units in horse care, plus two elective units of study.

Topics covered include:

Horse psychology & handling, Buying a horse, conformation, the digestive system, principles of feeding and watering, pasture management, grooming, shoeing, exercise and conditioning, stable design and general management. Coupled with a workplace project ensures that this comprehensive qualification is to a standard required in the horse industry.

Accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council - I.A.R.C.

The looming food crisis has been created by energy-consuming, broad-acre systems that rely heavily on chemical inputs. These systems need to be urgently dismantled and replaced by healthy, environmentally sustainable, alternative farming systems.

Study this course - Make changes in your farming practices now!

Accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council - I.A.R.C

ACS Student Comment: Yes [the course was a valuable learning experience]. It is providing me with new insights and development beyond my former knowledge of this subject. It also provides me with a proper basic knowledge to pursue my dreams in this career path. - Arnold Taen, Netherlands - Diploma in Animal Management

Suitable for anyone wishing to work in animal production at any level. Improve your career prospects within the animal husbandry industry. Study at your own pace in your own time. Supported by highly experienced tutors.

This course provides training for people wishing to work in animal production at:

Study this course if you want to develop in depth knowledge of agricultural marketing:

Improve your own business success or start a new career in this field.

Study in your own time at your own pace.

Improve your career prospects or business.

All tutors are highly experienced and qualified.

The core activity of any farm is producing animals or crops, but if the produce is not marketed at the right time for the right price, the whole financial viability of the farm is at best unstable. This course develops your ability to analyse and manage marketing problems in an agricultural enterprise

Learn to Grow Cereals and Other Grains

Grains and pulses (legumes) are the most important food crops to mankind. Both people and animals depend on them for food. This course will expand your understanding of both what grains can be grown, and how they can be grown.
More info & enrolment: AGRONOMY II -GRAINS BAG309 »

Learn more about Animal Breeding, planning animal breeding programs, genetic theory and more with this course from ACS.

Improve your knowledge of annual breeding and planning.

All tutors highly experienced and qualified in the field.

Learn about cross-breeding and live stock improvement.

A must for anyone wanting to learn more about animal breeding.

Plan and implement animal breeding programs using genetic theory, practical applications to daily husbandry practice, and management of animal breeding programs. This course includes a sound introduction to genetics relevant to any type of animal. Personal guidance from highly qualified and experienced animal scientists and practitioners.

Routine disease investigations are based on clinical, pathological and epidemiological evidence. If there is a need for conclusive identification of a disease or condition, an accurate laboratory diagnosis should be obtained. It is particularly important, especially in the case of infectious diseases that the final diagnosis rests on adequate aetiological evidence. In most cases disease investigations are carried out by qualified government stock inspectors and/or veterinarians. (Note: The professionals involved and regulations governing their scope of operation can vary from one country to another. It is important that you are aware of how far you can legally go with examining animals for health issues, and at what point you need to call in a veterinary professional).

It helps for animal owners to understand and be able to recognise diseases conditions that may affect their animals, so that timely intervention can occur.

Animal groomers are in high demand, and this is only likely to increase.

Students studying this course will gain a solid foundation of knowledge in animal grooming - for a variety of applications, practical and aesthetic, including cleanliness and health, and showing animals.

Suitable for anyone interested in working with animals – from wildlife parks to vet’s practices.

Understand animal health care issues and what can be done to improve animal health.

Developed and taught by highly experienced tutors.

Study in your own time at your own pace.

Learn to care for the health of any type of animal (focus is on mammals and birds) and understand the scope of services offered by animal care services, including in veterinary practices. This course is appropriate for anyone interested in working with animals including on a farm, a wildlife park or a veterinary practice. It is a sound foundation course and designed to cover most of what is found in a typical veterinary assistant's course in many countries around the world.

You will learn to assess and describe common diseases in animals, and how to identify appropriate treatments for these diseases, conditions or injuries. Specific topics include Signs and Symptoms of Diseases Disease Classification, Causes of Disease, Inflammation, Fever and Immunity, Tissue Repair, Wounds and Cell changes (death, cancers etc).

Are you running a farm or do you want to run a farm? Do you want to learn to do this well?

Suitable for people wanting to work in the field of agriculture or those who simply want to improve their general knowledge of agriculture. Study in your own time at your own pace. Learn from our highly qualified and experienced tutors. This course develops your capacity to work confidently on a specialized or mixed farm.

Core units equip you with all the basics needed for understanding:

general animal health management

farm management

marketing skills

Choose three elective units from a list that includes: soil and pasture management, calf rearing, poultry, beef or dairy cattle etc. An excellent starting point for learning the basics of farming.

This course is internationally accredited through the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (I.A.R.C.)

Farming has changed greatly over recent decades, and to survive, the modern farmer needs to increasingly seek alternative approaches, whether in terms of what is produced, or how it is produced. This course develops an innovative approach to farming by broadening awareness of options, and fostering skills to research and network more effectively.

This is a comprehensive and highly practical course; for anyone who wants to better understand the health and wellbeing of animals. It is designed to provide a foundation for employment in any type of animal care job; whether pets, domesticated farm livestock or wildlife (captive or free).

Become an expert in all areas of fish care and culture for agriculture, their use in aquaponics, aquarium management and much more with this certificate qualification in fish care and culture. There are six 100 modules consisting of Marine studies I and II, Marine and Freshwater Aquaculture, Aquaponics and Aquarium Management.

Study fish care and culture in the comfort of your own home, supported by our highly experienced and qualified tutors.

A Distance Learning Course available for Online study or by eLearning. The Diploma In Agriculture provides training for people wishing to work in the industry at a technician or management level - in positions such as overseer, property manager, technical and sales representatives, animal care workers, or consultants.

Learn to manage all types of animals in captivity and under observation.

A broad and detailed course, with Core Modules which focus on the study of anatomy, physiology, vertebrate zoology, animal behaviour, feed and nutrition, animal biochemistry, health and diseases, and genetics. These modules give students a thorough grounding in the biology of animals.

A wide choice of Elective Modules enables students to streamline their studies to make them relevant to their own situations and career paths.

An excellent opportunity to develop your knowledge of horses and how they behave.

Learn to identify problems in behaviour

Improve your career prospects.

Study in your own time at your own pace.

Develop your understanding of horse behaviour and your ability to apply that to the welfare and training of the horse. Behaviour is any externally observable activity of an animal. In general, it includes: Movement of parts of the body, stopping expected movement, secretions from the body and changes in body colour. People study equine behaviour to be able to understand and recognise "normal" behaviour and from this be able to identify and do something about .“abnormal”. behaviour; and better manage a horse.

Horses are bred not only to produce more animals; but also to manage the type of animals being produced. Selective breeding for specific uses has formed ‘modern’ horses of four general types including Hot bloods, Warm bloods and Cold bloods and Ponies.

Learn about how to managing the breeding process, how to care for the mare during pregnancy and the foal when it is born.

Water is essential to both plant and animal growth and is often the major limitation to productivity. Learn to design and manage simple irrigation systems for agricultural applications. Understand soil characteristics that affect irrigation needs (eg. drainage, water holding capacity), estimating plant needs, irrigation scheduling, types of irrigation systems (sprinkler, drip or trickle, and flood) and equipment (eg. pumps and filters).

This course builds on existing skills and knowledge achieved in Irrigation (Agricultural) BAG213 or an equivalent course. The course develops your ability to participate in design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for agricultural applications.

The term “Mariculture” refers to a sub-category of Aquaculture that deals specifically with Marine Aquaculture.

According to the FAO the term “Mariculture” (in its present usage) may be defined as:

“The culture of marine organisms, both plants and animals, in an aquatic medium or environment which may be completely marine (sea), or sea water mixed to various degrees with fresh water. This definition would include both the sea and inland brackish-water areas. These can be freshwater or salt water organisms, or have development phases in both types of waters.”

Learn about Holistic Treatment or “Holisti as opposed to the specific symptom they may be displaying.

Understand how holistic treatment is thought to treat the illness by boosting the immune system and overall health of the animal, which will in turn treat any secondary illnesses.

Study animal nutrition - optimal nutrition is the foundation of holistic treatment. By ensuring an optimal diet, you will provide all of the essential components that an animal needs to boost its immune system and maintain health.

Pastures are critical to many types of farms. Farmers have been known to turn unprofitable farms into commercial successes by simply improving pasture. Whether dealing with small or large properties, pasture management is an important part of many types of farm enterprises. This course is designed to be useful to those already managing existing pastures and those who wish to establish successful new pastures.

Learn about the care and management of poultry - as a hobby or part of your work

Learn to manage small and large scale poultry and egg production.

Suitable for farmers, people keeping poultry at home and more.

Study in your own time and at your own pace.

Taught and written by poultry experts.

Learn to manage poultry on a small or large scale, for production of eggs, meat or young birds. This course covers all aspects of poultry care and management including: Terminology, Breeds, Nutrition, Diseases in Poultry, Layers, Broilers, Incubation, Brooding, Record Keeping, Economics & Marketing; and is relevant to free range or other forms of production.

Sheep are an important agricultural livestock that are bred for meat and wool worldwide. Careful and informed management of your flock will ensure increased productivity and efficiency. Aimed at professional and amateur graziers, the course provides you with the knowledge to run your sheep effectively and productively and will help you to develop your ability to independently analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of sheep.

Student Comment

"Although I can do all of the practical work that is required to raise sheep, I am learning a lot more than I didn't already know. All that I knew I learned from my dad. I am enjoying this course and when I finish it, I would like to do another one, perhaps in management". Jonathan - Sheep student
More info & enrolment: SHEEP BAG210 »

Soil is the foundation for profitable farming. There are many things that can be wrong with soil (e.g. poor nutrition, chemical imbalance, structural problems such as drainage, lack of microbial life etc). Often minor and relatively inexpensive treatments can make a huge difference to productivity, but the problems need to be identified first, and that requires a solid understanding of soil theory and management practice. Learn about soil properties and requirements in agriculture, and how to apply that knowledge at a management level.

A must for anyone wanting to develop their farm in an agriculturally sustainable way.

Taught by highly qualified and experienced tutors.

Study in your time and at your own pace.

Today the pressure is on for more and more farmers to work towards sustainable systems of farming which produce healthy, nutritious, affordable food and a dependable, secure food supply -without producing a negative impact on the environment. Sustainable farms should protect the environment, preserve open spaces, forests and wildlife and also encourage and conserve biodiversity, plus provide the farmer and farm workers with a good living.

Learn to identify and effectively control weeds. You will learn about both chemical and non-chemical weed control methods (e.g. mulching, burning, slashing), plus the use of spray equipment and operating safety procedures which should be followed when using chemicals and equipment.

Internationally Recognised Training

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